Multiple spindle chucking machine



June 16, 1931. J. J. SPRING I MULTIPLE SPINDLE CHUCKING ACHINE 4She'ets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec 4, 1926 I amok/W601 4 Sheets -Sheet 2 J.'J.SPRING MULTIPLE SPINDLE CHUCKING MACHINE Filed Dec. '4, 1926 anowtoz 033M WWW 'f'? June 16, 1931. J. J. SPRING IULTIPLE SPINDLE GHUCKINGMACHINE I I avwemt'oz June 16,1931. J. J. SPRING MULTIPLE SPINDLECHUCKING MACHINE H N bu Q m a H Y t w I Q n mm Q. r fwgrnN v 0.0 NNJ\W021 N. 0 av m G 6 '2 w \1 4 b5, I H' J -----4---J mm W O L r-QQ a L6 DIII- N/ \J \J l m 0 Q 0 g 0 5N III a I On x mm M M .0. Hu p Patented.June 16, 1931 1 iunirrt 5 aosErn aoHn srairre, on nmv' BRITAIN,'connncricu'r, essieivonro THE eoss AND -.nnr,nnuw rrecnrun COMPANIIIOLENEW BRITAIN, oonnncrrcu'r, aconrone'rron for connncrrccr *MiI 'rIrL-nSPEND-LE CHUCKING MACHINE:

Application fil'ed December 4, 1926. Serial No. 152,52

The inventionrelates. to metal working machines of multiple spindle typegenerallyknownwas multiple spindle chucking machines; Inthistype ofmachine there-are a a 5- number of spindles-in one head, each spindlecontaininghalrotatable-tool therein for act i ing simultaneously oncorresponding pieces wot work held in 'their respective chucks in an- 1-.fother head arranged in lop'posed relation the simultaneous engagementof tools with vthe-correspondmg element to be machined.

Upon the completion of one operation one o V ;thepheads,in-1thisTeasethe chuck carrying lrhead-is withchawn' and given a partialrota- =--tion ori'ndexedto bring the parts to be machinedopposite'adifferent tool. More spe: eificallythe invention relates tothe means oi applying .thefclnicks' to. the; turret or index :3:Zea-head; the chuck operating means and to the general arrangement ofthe related structure.

'l he adjustable holderfor the stock to be "machinedcommonly called thechuckwas at first operated manually, onebommon con-q 25 stru-ctionbeingtw'o or more 3' aws attached to I a 'screw -which 'upon being manuallyrotated I mademanllally ad uStable in addition to the brought the jawsinto clampingflp'osition on the stock:

E'I-he. development of fluid pressure transso missionsand operatingmeans gradually led r to its applica'tion'to the operatingof variouselements of machine -tools.'--It proved to be i anexcellent means 'for;translating such'mem- -bers as=reciprocatory lathe heads.Theadaa-vantages of -fluid transmissiona of 1 power eventually led toitsutilization as a means of;operating-a single chuck therebyfresultingina power transmitting devic'e'w-hich had aa steadymotionwithout jerkingor; jarring I ily --grasp-the stock yet impositive-tothe' extent that it would give before breaking me-- chanical'parts. Theease with whichit could abewoontrolledby a simple "valve resultedin Thevarious andisuccessful adaptations of I p v provision :ofmeans wherebyunits of d1fl"erent sizes may be substituted, *As hereinlishown "1'thefluidipressu're means to the "operation of 1g theretoso thattranslation of one head causes 1 40.? a-nd 'sufliciently positiveinitsaction to flrmi simple "meansfor conducted it to valves on theperiphery which controlled the application of the fluid to apistonconnected to actuate the chuck jaws. Such machines, however, whilehaving the advantages of fluid pressure operatingmeans have been largeand cumbersome and'complicated in structure, and with variousprojectingelements liable to catchon clothing and requiring a largerclearance between theturret and lathe bed.

Another serious defect has been the limit ed range of the movement ofthe chuck aws.

Where the jaws areioperated by a piston theamount of movement of thejaws is necessarily-determined andlimited by the length of stroke ofthepiston. .WVhilewith some work it may be desirable to'move the/jawsbut a short distance;'in"other types of work it maybe .necessary'thatthe jaws receive a large movement as eLg. if the stock has an'overhangingflange. -.The jaws have been fluid pressure means but noprovisionlhas heretofore been made for changing the range obtained froma' ly invented and whichobjection arises from} their cumbersome,complicated structure is the lack of means: for readily replacing in- 1.

dividual 1 fluid pressure operated chucking units in case either, of adesire to use a chuck w1th .a. difl'ere'nt range of operation or forsome other reason such as breakage.

It is one of thelobjectsof the-present invention to provi dea turretsuch as to enable the I ready removal of a chuck and its operatingmeans. Thisis accomplishedby makmg the.

chuck and its operating means asingle, compact, integral unit, with,Qconvenient and its quick, attachment or'removal'. s

Another object of this invention lies in the such means comprises achucking unit which includes a cylinder with a piston therein foroperatlng the chuck. The cylinders may be made of different lengths witha corresponding change in the length of the piston rod if necessarythereby providing a longer or shorter stroke with a corresponding longor short range of operation of the aws. Such change may be e'fi'ected bysubstituting a.

operator and yet not form projections upon which the ope rators clothesor other objects ,maybe caught. The valves are constructed to conformwith the peripheral surface of the turret and are semi-built-in therebyresult mgin a compact turret requiring a minimum of clearance andreducing the size of the machine- Still further objects are to be foundin the general simplified, compact structure of the turretresulting in aturret which provides for ready accessibility and removal of parts butone which is nevertheless rigid and strong and of comparatively lightweight.

Other objects and advantages will'be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawings.

To enableothers skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlyingfeatures hereof that they may embody the same in the various wayscontemplated by this invention, drawingsdepicting a preferred typical'construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, insuch drawings, like char acters of reference denote corresponding partsthroughout all the views, of which 2- Figure 1 is a view in elevationshowing one end of a machine tool having an indexing head thereon inwhich this invention is incorporated. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig.

1': 1 but shows operating means for translating the'head andshowing theturret in cross sec 'tion. Fig. 3 is a view of the turret taken inelevation looking from the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of avalve control unit.

"Fig. 5 is a detail view in cross section of one of the chucking units.Fig. 6 is an end view thereof looking from the right in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the control valves.

The invention is shown incorporated in a turret head 10 having inconnection therewith an index turret 11 having thereon a plurality ofchucks 12 and also having on the periphery of said turret the valves 13of which there is one for each chucking unit.

The head 10 is adjustable along the Ways 14 and has means for impartinga reci rocatory motion thereto shown generally in ig. 2 as a rotary cam15 attached to the central shaft 16 which rotates the turret. The camengages with a fixed dog 17 thereby causing the reciprocation of thehead.

Enclosed in the housing 18 are positioned means for locking the turretand rigidly holding it after having received an indexing motion, suchmeans comprising a member 19 which may be contracted into en agementwith a non-rotatable surface 20 an the surface 20 attached to the turretto rotate therewith; Contraction of the member 19 brings these twosurfaces intoengagement and thereby serves as a locking means.

' The means for indexing the turret, that is giving it a step-by-stepmotion, is not shown and it is to be understood that any such well-knownmeans may be used.

The general construction of a machine tool such'as is here partiallyshown would be comprised of ahead mounted in opposed relation to thehead 10 and having thereon a lurality of rotatable spindles carrying toos to engage with stock mounted in the respective chucks. Upon thewithdrawing of the head 10 to -the right'the indexing mechanism opcratesto advance the turret one step whereby when the head 10 is againadvanced the stock is brought into such relation as to be operated uponby the next successive tool.

It is also to beunderstood that the means for reciprocating the head andturret as well as the means for clamping the'turret in any one positionmay be varied to suit the occasion, the specific means herein disclosedforming no part of the invention.

The turret will now be described more in detail. As shown best in, Fig.2 it comprises a cylindrically shaped rotary member which issubstantially hollow but having reinforcin; members therein where it isdesired to strengthen the general construction.

. The turret has a working face 21 in which are aplurality of openings22 adapted to receive chucking units. The numbers of these chuckingunits may be varied to suit the requirements of the work, five of thesebeing shown in the present case.

Fig. 2 shows'that the turret has a thickness which may be greater thanthe ordinary requirements of such'a machine to accommodate various sizedactuating means for the chucks as will be described more in detailhereinafter- The details of each chuck are somewhat as followsandcomprise a main plate 23 having bolted thereto the plate 24 by means ofthe screw bolts 25. These bolts 25 pass entire- 1y through both members23 and 24 into the face plate 21 of the turret.

These bolts constitute the entire supporting means for each chuckingunit and pro- 'vide 'easymeans: of attaching or: removing theindividu'alunits from the turret.

prises a cylinder 26 attached to the plate 23 and having thereina'piston 27 to which is connected the piston: rod 28 having at theopposite end oflthe piston rod the rack teeth 29 for engagement withvthe rack gear 30.

. The gear 30 is rigid with and mounted on shaft3l The shaft 31 isprovided with the screw threads 32fand33 having an opposite c at 26inFig. 2. In production work since;

pitch for a purpose to be disclosed hereafter.

' The member 24 has therein two rectangular openings 3a and 35,extending into the subg would be required to bring :the jaws intoengagementwith thework. Or for certain stantiallycylindrically shapedopenings 36 and137 respectively, such openings providing guideways forthe chuck jaws 38 and 39.

Fp1stonrod 28 "be given a. short stroke so as Each chuck jaw has acylindrical portion 40 mounted to slide in the respective opening 36 or37. The extensions 41 are for the purpose of engaging the stock.'Thecylindrical to thep'istonthe ja portions 40 have on one side thereofsegmental. teeth for engagement with, theright and left screw threads 32and 33 wherebylreciprocation of the rack 29 imparts. a rotary motion' totheshaft 31 and thereby movingthe chuck jaws 34 and 35 simultaneouslyeither toward or away fromthe center of the chuck.

By the, use of the screw thread '32 or 33 engaging, with; its respectivenut 40 a' selflockingchuck iscobtained. Thatis once the chucks are movedby fluid pressure "applied v ws are lockedin position even thoughthe-pressure is withdrawn from the pistonqby reason ,of the fact thatthe action of the screw thread and its nut is not reversible to permit:the nut to rotate the jaws and gearing has been found desirable1n,.construct ngthese units. However, it is to be understoodthat theinvention is not concerned withthespecific aw shown as, for

more jaws or any other construction; well known in the art. a o c Themeans for admitting fluid pressure into the immediate cylindercomprises-the detachable pipes 4:2 and 43' through which fluid pressureis forced later described. r

One of the most important features of this invention consistsofthevarious lengths of cylinders 26 which may be used to comply with the.requirements in connection with which the machine is-used. In theordinary construction; of'suchQ turret, mechanism and chucking means therange ormovement of the jaws is limited or, determined by thelength orstrokeof the piston which in turn in a manner to be internal chuckingbut with the ordinary cylv inder the range of movement by the luidpressure means might be toosmall to allow for chucking in bothdirections. Such an operation, however, may be. accomplished by theuseof a longer cylinder such'as is shown in Fig. 2 at 26. Again for.quantity production it maybe desiredthat the piston in completinga'stroke moves the jaws only a short distance. Such a cylinder is shownevery second counts the short cylinder could he often used to advantagein that less time types of work'it niaybelnecessary that the not toproject beyond the plate 24. as shown inFig. 5. It can be seen that amachine so constructed aslto-perm'it of substitution ofchucks'having alarger or smallerrange of operations would be highly desirable. Ap-

plicants construction provides means for accomplishing this-object mevery efficient; and

a simple manner. Fig. 2,.for the purpose of illustration, showsonecylinder 26 which may be termed the normal length and one'cylinder 26which may beused for specialwork. Ordinarily, howevenin an indexingmechanism where. the stock in each chuck is the same,

. units of the same size would be used.

It ist-o benoted that one very simple means ,of varying the size of theunits would be simply to change the length of the cylinder 26 which isreadilydetachable.from the plate I 23 and also to substitute apiston rod28 which shaft 31.) The above construction of.- the would be of ale'ngthin accordance withthe new cylinder.

Fig. 5, forquickapplication to the turret head whenever it is. desiredto change the units example, the-chuckmay have three or even Theremoval: of'a chuck unit is easily ac.

complished merely by removingthe screw 1 bolts 25: 'andidetachingthepipeconnections -42 and 43 from the cylinder,- or, ifv desired,

the pipe-4L3 may'bedetached from the valve,

and made a part ofthe chuck unit with a to the length of the reobjectsofjthis'invention; That is,the ready removal and interchangeability ofthe V34 rious chuck units and the provision whereby chucks having agreater or smaller range-0f operation may be substituted. These featuresare; bothraccompa-ni'ed by' th-e resulting turret However, these unitsof d-ifi'erent sizes may be, all assembled, as shown. in

: which is of a very compact and strong con- ;truction and one whichrequires a minimum of clearance between. the spindle and the guides'orbed plates 14.

7 It is to be. understood that the specific turret herein disclosed isnot limited in its application to the particular indexing mechanism buton the other hand may be used in any type of machine requiring a rotaryturret with a plurality of chucks thereon.

The means for leading the fluid pressure to the, various chucks will nowbe described and comprise first a main inlet at 44 for the particularpressure fluid which it is desired to use. This fluid may be hydraulicfluid or an elastic fluid such as air which is ordinarily piped througha factory. The pipe 44 since in the present construction the shaft" 16to which it is attached reciprocates back and forth, is provided with aflexible connection (not shown) to the source of fluid. The pipe 44 isconnected to the non-rotatable portion 45 having a passage leadingtherethrough to communicate with the central passage 46 of head 16 rigidwith the shaft 16. The pipe 46 centrally mounted within the shaft 16leads to the opposite end for distribution to the individual chucks. Anadjustable packing nut 47 is shown in the end of the head 16*accompanied by the packing 48 to prevent leakage. The left end of theaxial passage 46 communicates with a series of radiating pipes orpassages 49 of which there is one for each chuck. The fluid passes fromthe passage-49 through the respective pipes 50 to the valve casing shownmore indetail in Figs. 4 and 7.

Each valve is a separate and detachable -wisedirection reverses thestroke of the pisunitlocated on the periphery of the turret adjacent itsrespective chuck. Each valve consists of a main plate 51 which is shapedto conform somewhat with the exterior surface of the turret and having abody portion 52 which isinset into the surface of the a turret. l

.VVithin the plate 51 is located a rotary valve disk 53 havingthereinholes 54 and 55 for position of the valve.

leading pressure fluid to the opposite ends of the respective cylinder,depending upon the The exhaust takes place throughthe valve by means ofthe cutaway portion 56 in the upper surface thereof which allowscommunication between either end of the cylinder and the exhaustopening57. The fluid pressurefrom the valve is led to the left end of thecylinder as it appears in Fig. 1 through outlet 58 which communicateswith a pipe 42 heretofore mentioned. The valve communicates with theopposite end of its fluid pressure cylinder through outlet 59communicating with pipe 43.

The valve is manually operated, that is given an oscillatory movement bymeans of the handle 60 which is connected to the oscillat-ory valvedisk53 by means of a short stub shaft extending through the cover-plate61 in which-are ocated the various passages leading to the cylinder andto the exhaust.

. V The pipes 42 and 43 are made readily detachable to enable. thecylinder 26 to be removed from the turret. If desirable the pipe 43 canbe made a 'partof the chucking'unit with a length corresponding to thelength of the cylinder.

in general resulting in a very compact construction and one'in whichthere are few projecting parts to catch on clothing or any other objectswhich may be located near the machine during the operation thereof.

Having described the elements, a brief statement of the operation of themachine will be given. Referring particularly to Fig. 4 if the lever 60be moved clockwiseit may be seen that the groove 56 allows communicationbetween the passage 58 and the exhaust opening 57. At the same time theport 55 will be in a position to permit communication' between thechamber in the lower part of the valve casing and the pipe connection59'leading through the pipe 43 to one end of the cylinder there ycausing the piston to assume a position at one end of its throw or some.intermediate position if the arrangement is such that the jaws come intoengagement with the stock or tool to be held thereby.

Movement of the lever in a counterclockchuck the jaws may be used foreither internal or external chucking and the holding power will beequally strong in either direction.

It is to be understood that the particular means for engaging the stockand the geargrasped by the jaw or to operate the next chuck or toperform any of the many other operations attendant upon the operation ofsuch a machine tool.

If for any reason, it becomes desirable or necessary to operate thechucks manually a nut or squared end 61 is provided for the applicationthereto of the ordinary wrench.

Without further analysis, the foregoing;

' will so'fully reveal the gistof this invention that others can, byapplyingvcurrent knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizae tionsby retainingone or more of the fea-v tures that, from the standpoint ofthe prior art, fairly, constitute essential characteristics of eitherthe generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, suchadap-- tations should be, and are intended to be;

comprehended within the meaning and rangezof equivalency of thefollowing claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, 1 claim as new and desire tosecure, the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof,by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a machine tool, a turrethaving a workin face'withfan onenin therethrou h L b b extending intosaid turret; a chucking unit, I adapted to be mounted in said opening,said unit comprising chucking jaws and fluid pressure operating meanstherefor adapted to be mounted within said opening, said op eratingmeans comprising .a cylinder, piston means therein, and operatingconnections from said piston means to said jaws, said opening being ofsuflicient depth whereby cylinders of various lengths may be used toallow various length piston strokes where, by theoperating range ofthejaws may be substantiallyvaried 2; Ina'machine tool, an index tablehaving a working face and with an opening therethrough extending. intosaid table; a

chucking unit comprising chucking jaws and fluid pressuremeans'connected thereto for operating said aws, sa1d neans adapted to bemounted within said opening; and means for removably mounting said jawson said working face, whereby the unit may be conveniently removedwithout disturbing the remaining structure.

3. A rotary turret ,for machine tools "adapted to rotate about a centralaxis comprising a'cylindrically shaped membe hav- I,

ing a working face substantially at right, angles tothe axis, and havingan opemng therethrough extending into said member; a chuck unit adaptedto be mounted in said opening, said unit comprising chucking jaws, fluidpressure means for operating said jaws and brackets forsupporting, saidunitc'integral therewith at an" intermediate portion whereby saidoperating means are positioned within said cylindrical member; and meansengageable with said brackets for fastening the unit to the working face[whereby the unit is made readily removable. r

4. In a machine tool, a rotary turret having' a workingface and havingan opening therethroughextendmgmto said turret; a chucking un1tcomprising-chucking aws and fluid pressure operating means connected tocylinder. 7 V

9. A machine tool combining a substan- V tially cylindrical memberrotatively mounted thereon and havinga working ,face trans-w said; jaws;fluid pressure control means for said unit mounted on the periphery ofsaid turret; and means for mounting said unit in, 7

said opening whereby the unit may-be re moved as a whole withoutdisturbing the ad acent structure orthe control means.

5. In'an indexing ,mechanism an index head comprising a hollowdrumshaped memher having a working face with a plurality of openingstherethrough extending, intosaid, drum; achucking unit removably mountedin each of said openings, eachunit including fluid pressure means foroperating said unit; and acontrol valve for each unit mounted on theperiphery of said drum. I

6. In a machine tool, a rotary turret com s prising acylindricallyshaped memberhav- Y ing a flat working face witha-plurality of,

openings therethrough extending into saidmember; chucking unitsremovably mounted in each open ng, each unlt includingifluidr pressureoperated means and a, control means for each unit comprising a flatvalvegbody;

arranged in the cylindrical-surface of said f conform with the contourthereof. r

, member and being substantially'arc-shaped to 7. In a machine tool, arotary turret,:asaid 1 turret having a working face with a plurality;

of openings therethrough extending into saidturret; a chuckingunitremovably mounted tj on said face and each unitincluding fluidpressure operating means therefor extending into said opening; a centraldriving shaft extendlng fromsaid turrethaving an axialpase.

sage therethrough for: fluid pressure; a control valve for eachunit; andfluid pressureconnections from each control valve toisaid axial passageand fromeachcontrolvalvetor;

its respective chucking; unit. v v p r 8, In a machine tool, a rotaryturret com-v prising a cylindrically shaped substantially hollow memberhavinga working face and i an opening therethrough into said hollowmember; a chucking unit adapted to be IIlOLlIliSBCllIl sald openng-,}sa1d unit comprising chucking jaws, means for mounting said i Iverse to the axis thereof; a chucking unit mounted in an opening in saidworking face, 1

said unit including fluid pressure operating means therefor; and acontrol means for said unit comprising a flat valve body arranged in thecylindrical surface of said member to substantially conform with thecontour thereof. f

10. A machine tool combining a rotary turret having a working face withan opening therein; and a chucking unit adapted to be removably mountedin said opening compris ing grasping means, and fluid pressure cylinderand piston means for operating said grasping -means, said opening beingof sufiicient depth whereby cylinders and plston means for variouslengths may be employed to provide correspondlngly different lengths ofpiston strokes and thereby different ranges of movement of the graspingmeans.

11. A machine tool combining a rotary turret having a working face withanopening therein extending into said turret; and a chucking assemblycomprising grasping means and fluid pressure operating means therefor,said assembly being adapted to be mounted on the turret and removabletherefrom as a unit with the grasping means secured on the working faceand the fluid pressure operating means extending through I said openinginto the turret, said opening being of sufiicient depth whereby unitsmay be employed having variously sized fiuid'pressure operating means togive correspondingly different ranges of movement to the grasping means.I

12. A machine tool combining a rotary turret having a working face withan opening therein extending into said turret; and a chucking assemblycomprising grasping means, and a fluid pressure cylinder and pistonmeans for operating the grasping means, said assembly being adapted tobe mounted in said turret opening and removable therefrom as a unit,said cylinder and piston means being detachable from said chucking as:

sembl and capable of being replaced by cylin er and piston means ofdifferent lengths whereby correspondingly diflerent ranges of movementmay be imparted to said grasping means. i r

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH JOHN SPRING.

